ALIGNMENT STENT APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20090082845A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Endologix
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Chobotov, Michael V.
• Application Number:
  US11/861,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.130
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

The invention provides a stent-graft system comprising a graft member and a stent having a connection end interconnected with the graft member and a free end opposed thereto. A belt retaining structure is provided at the stent free end. A belt is releasably retained in the belt retaining structure and is configured to constrain the stent free end independent of the stent connection end. A method of securing at least one end of a stent-graft within a vessel is also provided.

Claims

1. A stent-graft system comprising:

a graft member;

a single segment stent having a connection end interconnected with the graft member and a free end opposed thereto;

a belt retaining structure provided at the stent free end; and

a belt releasably engaging the belt retaining structure and configured to constrain the stent free end substantially independent of the stent connection end.

2. The stent-graft system according to claim 1 wherein the stent comprises a plurality of struts extending between the connection end and the free end.

3. The stent-graft system according to claim 2 wherein crowns adjoin respective adjacent struts at the free end of the stent.

4. The stent-graft system according to claim 3 wherein the belt retaining structure includes a plurality of through holes extending through the crowns.

5. The stent-graft system according to claim 4 wherein the belt is threaded through a plurality of the through holes.

6. The stent-graft system according to claim 3 wherein the belt retaining structure includes at least two mushroom shaped connectors extending from respective crowns.

7. The stent-graft system according to claim 2 wherein one or more barbs extend from the stent struts.

8. The stent-graft system according to claim 7 wherein the barbs are positioned closer to the stent free end than the stent connection end.

9. The stent-graft system according to claim 1 wherein the belt is releasably secured by a release wire.

10. The stent-graft system according to claim 1 wherein at least one additional belt is releasably secured about the stent between the connection end and the free end and is releasable independent from the belt.

11. The stent-graft system according to claim 1 wherein the stent connection end includes a plurality of connection elements configured for attachment to corresponding connection members on the tubular graft.

12. A method of securing at least one end of a stent-graft within a vessel, comprising:

positioning within the vessel a stent-graft comprising a single segment stent and a graft with a connection end of the stent connected to an end of the graft, 5 the stent having a free end opposite the connection end, the stent free end including a belt retaining structure with a belt releasably retained thereabout;

deploying the stent connection end within the vessel;

repositioning the stent-graft within the vessel, if needed; and

releasing the belt to deploy the free end of the stent.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the vessel is a thoracic aorta.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the vessel is an abdominal aorta.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the step of repositioning the stent-graft within the vessel includes moving the stent, the graft or a combination of the stent and the graft.

16. The method according to claim 12 wherein the step of repositioning the stent-graft within the vessel includes allowing a fluid flow through the vessel to enter within the graft to self-align the stent and graft.

17. The method according to claim 12 wherein the step of deploying the stent connection end within the vessel includes releasing an additional belt constraining the stent connection end.